A GOVERNMENT-backed campaign which aims to tackle the problem of age discrimination in the workplace has launched its first best practice awards for Wales.

The Age Positive Awards 2004 will recognise and reward individuals and employers successfully tackling social prejudices about age in the workplace.

Mori research has revealed that ageism is the most prevalent form of discrimination in the workplace, with the problem worse in Wales and Scotland than England.

The Mori findings also indicated that employment rates for the over 50s remain far lower in Wales and Scotland.

Of those respondents in Wales who felt they had experienced discrimination in the workplace one fifth said it was because of their age.

They felt they had been discriminated against either for being too young or too old.

The Age Positive Awards are now entering their fourth year in England, but this year are being extended to cover Wales and Scotland.

In Wales the campaign is seeking entrants in the categories of best employer and individual.

The winning employer will have to best demonstrate a positive attitude towards age diversity in their recruitment, training or development.

While the individual award will go to the person who has best demonstrated how he or she overcame age discrimination in getting a job or in making a career change.

The Welsh winners will then join others from the rest of the UK at an awards ceremony in London.

Forgemasters, based in Taffs Well, is a prime example of an "age positive" employer.

The company, which supplies forgings to the automotive industry, employs 70 staff, of whom 16 are aged 50 or over.

Its managing director Paul Brabbam said, "The age balance within our organisation means that our employees interact effectively with one other. This enables them to advance in the workplace and fulfil their maximum potential thus benefiting themselves as individuals and the company as a whole."

More details on the awards, which have a closing date of May 21, can be found at www.agepositive.gov.uk.